Great writing advice from Richard Ford

OK, it's not actually from him as such (the words come from a character in his new novel Canada) but they might as well.

Not to hunt too hard for hidden or opposite meanings but to look as much as possible straight at the things you can see in broad daylight.

Sage advice, whoever it comes from

mum or Mum?

I've been writing something recently from the POV of a young girl who always refers to her mother as 'mum'. When I write dialogue in which the girl addresses her mother I find myself capitalising 'mum' as though it's a name, which, in a way, I guess it is. For example 'I know that, Mum,' I said.

Even if she's referring to her when talking to other people I find myself writing 'Yeah, that's what Mum said' (or somesuch).

I have no idea what the correct way of doing this is but it feels wrong not to capitalise. I've asked a few people and, so far, everyone says it's better to capitalise. What do you think?

Tweet me (@matthwrites) and cast your vote.

Matt